Advertising device



y 30, 1929- R. M. SHERRILL I I 1,722,770

ADVERTI S ING DEVICE Filed May 20, 1927 EJ107712) 7": fife/10rd EC S/LGT'TLLL T]? ST BIGHARD ITE. SHERRILL, OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR- 'IO CENTRAL SCIENTIFIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

ADVERTISING DEVICE.

Application filed May 20,

This invention relates to electrical display devices.

' The principal object of the invention is the provision of an electrical display device that contains an element of mystery, with a deceptive suggestion as to its solution.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved electrical device having the appearance of a miniature radio aerial for illuminating an electrical light bulb for display or advertising purposes.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved electrical display device that is cheap to manufacture, easily assembled, attractive and mysterious in appearance, and that is calculated to arouse the curiosity and attract the attention of the passer-by.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the device, with parts in section; and

Fig. 2 is an edge section of a portion of the glass plate.

In display and advertising devices it is'desirable that an element of mystery be present in order to attract the attention of the passerby. The curiosity is also further excited if the device contains a deceptive suggestion as to its solution.

The present invention contemplates combining these two elements in the form of an electric light, a miniature radio aerial and a plate of glass for supporting the light.

In the form of the device selected to illustrate one embodiment of the invention, the reference character 10 designates a support. such as a table or cabinet on which the supporting standards 11 and 12 are secured. These standards are preferably slotted at their upper ends as at 13 for receiving the lower edge of a plate glass member 14 for holding the same in vertical position.

A suitable electrical display device is mounted on the plate glass. Any suitable device may be employed for this purpose. In the form of construction selected to illustrate one embodiment of the invention an electric bulb 15 is used. Suit-able means are provided for energizing the bulb. In order to mystify and attract attention the conductors are so arranged as to be practically concealed.

1927. Serial 110,192,923.

Fig. 1 the current is brought in through the leads 16 and 17 to the transformer 18 that may be properly concealed about the cabinet or support. The wlres 19 and 21 are connected to the conductor members 22 and 23 which extend through the table 10 and supports 11 and 12.

Tin foil 24 is attached all about the edge of the glass so that all edges will have the same appearance, and is of suchcolor as to simulate the appearance of the edge of a glass plate. The tin "foil is severed by cuts at the points 25 and 26, see Figs. 1 and 2, in order not to short circuit the electric light bulb.

In order to supply a deceptive suggestion as to the source of energy employed to energize the light bulb 15 a miniature radio aerial is mounted on the upper edge of the glass. A coil of wire or any other deceptive suggestion as to the source of electrical energy may be employed. As shown, the aerial posts 27 and 28 are mounted in any suitable manner on the upper edge of the glass plate 14 and an imitation aerial 29 is suspended from the tops of the posts. The posts may be alike, but the post 28 is a conductor and the aerial supporting member 31 is also a conductor. Aconductor 32 is attached at its upper end to the aerial supporting member 31 and at its lower end to oneterminal of the light. The other terminal of the light 15 is in contact with the tin foil on the top edge of the glass plate 14 through the attaching member-20. A' non-' conductor is interposed between the member 31 and the support 40 for the post 27 in order not to short circuit the light. A wire or cord 35 is attached to the shell of the electric light 15 and has its other end attached to a representation of a ground 36 on the glass plate 14, in order to deceive the onlocker.

If desired a question mark 37 may be placed on the plate glass, in order to suggest the question as to how the light is energized.

The current may be traced as follows. From the lead 16 and transformer 18 the current passes along the conductors 21 and 23 into the tin foil 24 on the edge of the plate, and since the tin foil is slitted at 25 and 26 the current will pass up the standard 28, along the supporting member 31 and down the conductor wire 32 to the shell terminal of the light bulb 15. From the light bulb the current passes into the tin foil 24 and out through the conductors 22 and 19 to the transformer 18 and lead 16 back to the source.

WVhile I have shown an electrical light bulb as the display device, it is understood that any other type of electrical energy translating device may be employed for this purpose. It is also understood that the plate of glass may be supported in any position, either in a horizontal or vertical plane, and the electrical device mounted thereon in any suitable manner.

I claim as my invention:

1. A display device comprising a plate glass, means for supporting the same from one edge thereof, an electrical energy translating device mounted on another edge of said glass, a'tinfoil conductor extending about, and secured to the edge of said glass, said tinfoil being coextensive with the edge of the glass, a source of electrical energy, and electricalconductors between said source of energy and said tinfoil and between said tinfoil and said device for energizing said device from said source of electrical energy.

2. In an electrical display device, a glass plate, means for supporting said plate in a substantially vertical plane, an electrical energy translating device mounted on one edge of said glass plate, tinfoil securedto the edge of said plate for conducting a current of electricity to and from said device for energizing the same, and a miniature aerial associated with said device, a portion of said aerial constituting means for conducting a current of electricity to said device.

3. An electrical display device comprising a glass plate, supports therefor, electrical conductors extending through said supports, an electrical light bulb mounted on said plate,

a miniature aerial mounted on said plate, tinfoil about the edge of said plate for conducting an electric current from a source of supply to said aerial, and a conductor between ing the source of the current supplied to said element, a portion of said aerial constituting a conductor for said current.

5. In a display device, a plate of glass, an electrical translating device mounted on said plate, a source of electrical energy, conductors for conducting electrical energy from said source to said translating device for energizing the same, said conductors being secured to the plate and simulating the appearance thereof, whereby they will be unnoticed by the casual observer, and an imitation electrical device associated with said conductors for deceptively suggesting the origin of saidelectrical energy, a portion of said device being in circuit with said conductors and said translating device.

6. In an electrical display device, an electric light bulb, an imitation aerial, and means for energizing said bulb, said means comprising an electric circuit including a portion only of said aerial, a concealed conductor, and a source of electrical energy for furnishing an electric current to said circuit.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature.

RICHARD M. SI-IERRILL. 

